Bears coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday it's "a little early" to cast predictions on the potential return of Johnny Knox, who continues to rehabilitate from a serious back injury suffered in December. "It would be hard for me to go into that right there," Smith said from the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. "Are you a religious man? Do you talk to God? He can probably tell you. Besides that, it's going to be pretty hard."

The Bears agreed to terms on a one-year contract with WR Devin Thomas today. Thomas joins the Bears after two seasons with the Giants (2010-11), in which he had 25 kickoff returns for 607 yards (24.3 ypr), three receptions for 37 yards (12.3 ypc) and eight special teams tackles in 20 contests. During the Giants Super Bowl Championship run, Thomas had two fumble recoveries (including one that set up the game winning field goal in overtime of the NFC Championship at San Francisco) and one special teams tackle while appearing in all four contests for New York.

Johnny Knox is hoping to play in 2012 as he recovers from a serious back injury. "The reality is, we love Johnny Knox, and we're rooting for him, and we're hoping he can get back," Bears president Ted Phillips said. "And as soon as he gets back, we hope to have the ability to give him an opportunity to earn his spot back because he's meant a lot to us." The Chicago Tribune has reported that Knox was scheduled to start the season on the physically unable to perform list, citing multiple sources, and that there was a "strong chance" the receiver wouldn't play at all in 2012. Knox has a daunting challenge before him, since he required surgery to stabilize a vertebra in his back after a horrific hit in a 38-14 loss to the Seahawks on Dec. 18. But his agent, Marc Lillibridge, reiterated on Monday that Knox has had no setbacks, and he's aiming to play in 2012. "We are six months away from that decision," Lillibridge said.

The Vikings have agreed to terms with cornerback Zachary Bowman on a one-year contract, according to a source. Bowman spent the last four seasons in Chicago. He intercepted six passes for the Bears in 2009.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told fans on Friday that the team was prepared to cut Brandon Marshall before he was traded to the Bears earlier this month. "[Ross] said they had been shopping [Marshall] for a couple weeks," Jason Lawrence, a long-time season ticket holder, said. "Nobody would return their phone calls about getting him. If Chicago didn't take [Marshall] ... they would have ended up cutting him very shortly after that, and got nothing."

Marion Barber has retired from the NFL. Barber most recently was Matt Forte's backup for the Bears.

The Bears have added Michael Bush to their stable of running backs, a move that irked Matt Forte. "There's only so many times a man that has done everything he's been asked to do can be disrespected!" read a post on Forte's Twitter account Thursday afternoon. "Guess the GOOD GUYS do finish last ..." Later in the day, Forte posted twice on the subject: "for the record I'm not mad at the signing of another running back. This is 4th time that's happened. I embrace competition as well as help." He added, "But as for not taking care of ur own and undervaluing a player under his market value is another story! #twitterrant" Forte recently was designated as Chicago's franchise player as the sides work to come to a long-term deal.

Michael Bush has signed a four-year agreement with the Bears. Bush will be Matt Forte's backup at running back. Bush has had a lot of success as a short-yardage and goalline back.

Bears GM Phil Emery said Thursday that he has been contacted by the NFL regarding an incident involving Brandon Marshall last weekend in New York City, but he said it's getting "far ahead of the process" to talk about possible suspensions. A woman accused Marshall of striking her at a nightclub late Saturday night, adding to a long list of controver

Just four days before being traded to the Bears, Brandon Marshall was involved in an incident at a New York City nightclub. The wide receiver was at a club early Sunday morning when he allegedly got into an argument with a group of friends celebrating a birthday at the club, according to the New York Post. The incident reportedly ended with Marshall punching a woman in the eye.